By Lian Cheng
MARUDI, March 20: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has made it clear that he does not tolerate the presence of “termites” within the ruling coalition.
He said he would give priority to the existing pack that comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
“We don’t want to have termites in GPS. If you have termites, the whole house will fall down. The moment the house falls, that means the end of us. I give priority to GPS. This is for our future.
“We cannot say, ‘Oh, I support Abang Jo’ but, at the same time, you try to be funny (‘berlaga-laga dalam’) in GPS. We cannot tolerate that. The struggle must be (based) on principle,” he said at the Marudi Waterfront project launching today.
Abang Johari, who is also Chief Minister and PBB president, said as an individual, he was not important when Sarawak’s or a party’s interest was concerned.
“I am not important. I am only continuing the struggles of Sarawak and that of the previous leaders. I am not important, the important thing is Sarawak. It is more important than me.
“Some people said, ‘I am loyal to Abang Jo.’ You cannot be loyal to me. You must be loyal to Sarawak. That is the first thing. Then we continue to fight for the people of Sarawak,” he said.
Citing his own experience within PBB, he said there were disagreements in the party before. He did not leave the party because of that but continued to give support to top leadership.
“You know my political carrier is as long as 40 years. There were people who were not in agreement with me, but I did not jump. I remained in the party. I continued to struggle with the people in the party because the party is more important than me.
“That is why in the transition of chief ministership from Datuk (Pehin Sri Abdul) Taib (Mahmud) to Datuk (Pehin Sri) Adenan Satem, I supported Tok Denan 100 per cent.
“It was also the same when I took over from Tok Nan, the party is solid behind me, not because of me, (but) because of the party. The party is the platform of our future. (An) individual is not important.
“That is why I want to stress that we will fight for GPS and components of GPS.”
He emphasised that GPS would continue to fight for all communities, both Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras.
“There is no other state (in Malaysia) that has UNIFOR (Unit for Other Religions) because I want to be fair. Islam also wants its leaders to be fair,” he pointed out.
However, he reiterated that unity is of the utmost importance within GPS.
He said he would continue to monitor the whole political scenario of Sarawak and then make a decision, at the right time.
“But what is important is unity. GPS — PBB, SUPP, PDP and PRS — must be one. Let me be frank. If it is termites, I cannot tolerate, because Sarawak is more important than me,” he reiterated.
“Because of that, in our party, we have to see the pros and cons. I am taking time to evaluate. When the time is right, I will decide what we are going to do. But we monitor. We definitely don’t want termites in GPS,” said Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
